Category: Survey

The Department for Transport is urging the public to take part in a consultation on cycling and walking before the 1 June deadline.
The department’s call for evidence on cycling and walking – Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) safety review in England – and seeks views and opinions on everything from improved infrastructure to education for all road users.Jesse Norman, the Minister responsible for the review, said: “I want us to become a nation of cyclists, and to make cycling the natural choice of transport for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“Our call for evidence supports an open, comprehensive and thorough review across government to encourage active travel and improve safety for all road users. We particularly want to hear from vulnerable road users, so if you have ideas for improving road safety then please let us know.”

“We are determined to make cycling safer and easier across the country. Already this year we have announced an investment of £100,000 each in three innovative cycle safety projects, on top of the recent £7m to improve cycle safety. This is all part of the first-ever statutory ‘Cycling and walking investment strategy’.”

Distribution to Councillors and officers Making Space for Cycling report.

10b Political engagement

Somerset County Council

TACC statement and map presented to Somerset County Council with survey report. Meeting with Councillor David Fothergill and Councillor Roger Habgood. Regular meetings with David Mitchell and other Highway officers. Liaison with Councillors Hunt, Coles and Willliams on SIS schemes.

Distribution to Councillors and officers Making Space for Cycling report.

10c Political engagement

MP

Meeting with Rebecca Pow MP April 2018 to discuss A358, cycle network development and design issues.

Please complete our new TACC survey to tell us where you would like future cycling funds to be spent

In 2018, we plan to work with Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council on developing a new cycling network plan for the Taunton area. The government has provided funding for consultants to work with Somerset County Council officers this year to develop a long term cycling plan.

We want to contribute to this. This work will be a necessary stepping stone to applying for new funding from the Government. What would you like to see in the plan?

We are calling on Lidl to install Sheffield racks close to the entrance to the their store, so that cyclist have somewhere to secure their bikes. Lidl came bottom of our recently compiled league table of supermarkets in Taunton cycle parking at supermarkets

We have contacted Lidl twice to ask for discussions. They have not replied, which seems highly disrespectful. Taunton has above average levels of cycling and cycle theft is a real risk. There is ample car parking and it is probably unthinkable that the store would be allowed to operate without it. Cyclists also spend money at the store, so why shouldn’t they also have some convenient provision?

A group of TACC members recently visited the store to highlight the issue.

Thanks to all TACC supporters who did the supermarket cycle parking survey providing data for 11 supermarkets. The new Aldi at Bathpool just edged it on the scoring. They have provided easy to use ‘Sheffield’ type racks, properly spaced, close to the entrance. Well done to Aldi.

Aldi Bathpool

The survey showed that some very basic errors are being made. Lidl at Castle Street has put its racks too close to the wall, there is a kerb to go up, it is some distance from the store entrance and you have to mix it in the car park.

Tesco have provided oddly shaped racks which are more difficult to secure a bike, and they are too close to a wall.

Lidl, Castle Street

Tesco, Castle Street

Worst of all, Lidl in Halcon and Tesco Express on Priorswood Road offer absolutely no cycle parking. Taunton Deane Borough Council are supposed to be ensuring that 1 cycle parking space is provided for every 80m2 of retail space, which in the case of some recent supermarkets has not been achieved. We need to ask the question – what is going wrong?
The full league table shows the results.

Cycle parking facilities near supermarkets (2018, n=11)

Supermarket

Points scored

Comments

Aldi Bathpool

20

This is a new store so it may get busier.
As the newest supermarket in town seems to have done a good job.

Morrisons Riverside/Firepool

19

More capacity needed here. It would also be good to have an official cycle access point at the northern end of the car park. There is a slope and footway access that I use.

Waitrose Wellington

17

They occasionally get blocked by trolleys.

Tesco Castle St

17

It’s poorly positioned with trolley racks and no passing space for wheelchairs.
This store has two bike parking areas. The one to the right of the main entrance has no easy access or egress other than on foot. The racks Tesco uses are a poor design. Their trolley racks are much better quality!
Cycle racks crowded and inadequate jammed in near a trolley park.

Sainsbury Hankridge

15

Sainsbury Town Centre

14

Numbers of cycle racks insufficient.

Asda near Toneway

14

There’s a sign near the racks indicating cycle parking.

Co-op Welllngton Road

12

Lidl Castle St

7

There is a large step up to the cycle parking requiring dismount to access. A cyclepath runs past this store, yet a separate cycle access has not been provided from this lane, only a pedestrian access. The railings by the main entrance are a better facility than the racks provided which are too close to the wall.

Lidl Halcon

0

No cycle parking. It has space to provide decent bike facilities but there is nothing present for cyclists, other than the trolley barriers, which will damage bikes.
This is a fairly recent store. It appears that TDBC didn’t check that their own standards had been met.

Tesco Express Priorswood Road

0

No cycle parking. Rack is turned on its side and not secured, and thus not safe.

Data were collected in December 2017 and January 2018. Scores are based on features like capacity, type of rack, space between racks and wall, availability of cover, distance to store and ease of access. A maximum of 21 points could be scored.

Upcoming Events

Better, Quicker & Fitter

Taunton Area Cycling Campaign is a voluntary group run by local residents with 500 members. Our aim is safer, better and more cycling in the Taunton Area. We are campaigning on a number of key areas:

integration into major new developments such as the North Taunton Development, Coal Orchard and Firepool;

improving design standards so that road and cycling infrastructure is designed in a way that it more user friendly;

seeking more investment, in the short term through Somerset County Council’s Small Improvement Scheme programme. We are seeking to work with the local authorities for a major scheme funding bid, in line with Taunton Garden Town aspirations;

promotion and updating the Taunton cycling and walking map.

We believe that, if you cycle in Taunton, you help create a BETTER environment, save time by making QUICKER journeys and you will be FITTER.

TACC Tweets

As we have said all along, new roads are not the answer. This money should be invested in public transport improvements and sustainable routes like cycle ways. Our kids are on #ClimateStrike today - isn't it time we started listening?#EndOfTheRoad @Roads2Nowhere https://t.co/MiDjrdXow8

Over 1300 people have signed our' Turn the network blue' petition (paper and on line) for improved cycling infrastructure in the Taunton area. Please support our on line petition here https://t.co/fwwgdjGO20

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